I have a FPV hexcopter but I can't fly it smooth in the wind and it will be making a transition to low power 5.8GHz for visual-range camera work. My 1.3GHz gear will go to the plane instead.

So I'm looking at the Sky Surfer, wondering if I should build the kit and add a $100 hop-up motor/esc combo or buy the PNP version with stock electronics. The type of flying I expect to do is low altitude (<1000ft) sight-seeing FPV - nothing acrobatic. But it will need to carry all the FPV gear and fly about 20min. Oh, and GoPro to record HD.

I just purchased the kit and put my own electronics in because I had a motor and a ton of servos. It looks like you will need a motor (~2000kv) and servos. If I were you I would get the setup that has both of these for simplicity sake, keeping in mind they may not be amazing parts. You can always upgrade later if you need to.

There is somewhat limited selection in motors for the plane given the low prop clearance. So maybe get the ARF model with the motor for now. Having seen his plane in action all-oem, it is still quite capable in oem form, even doing aerobatics. For my build I did get a motor relocation kit to run 8 inch prop and larger motor, which is even more fun to fly and more capable of carrying FPV gear and larger battery. Once you load it up, however, I feel the spar is insufficient, so I added a 2nd one.